30  dec  2012

1st ODI: Dhoni's effort not good enough as Pakistan win vs India

Dhoni has a century but Nasir Jamshed has one too as well as some valuable support from fellow batsmen as visitors claimed an easy 6-wicket win.

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Chennai:  Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's heroic unbeaten century under pressure went in vain as arch rivals Pakistan held their nerve to clinch the first one day international with a comfortable six-wicket victory in a low-scoring contest here on Sunday.

India posted 227 for six after recovering from a precarious 29 for five one stage but that turned out to be insufficient for the Pakistanis who rode on Nasir Jamshed's unbeaten century to overhaul the target with 11 balls to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Dhoni played a captain's knock with an unbeaten 113, his 8th ODI century, to script a brilliant Indian recovery after left-arm pacer Junaid Khan (4/43) exploited the overcast conditions to rip through the top-order and leave the hosts gasping for breath within the first 10 overs.

The Indian captain found an able ally in Suresh Raina (43) first and then Ravichandran Ashwin (31 not out) to take the score beyond the 200-run mark which looked doubtful at one stage following the top-order collapse.

Dhoni and Ashwin put on a record seventh wicket partnership of 121 runs but the Indian captain's superlative knock off 125 balls lost much of its value as the Pakistani batsmen went about the task of chasing down the target without taking too many risks.

Younis Khan (58) and Shoaib Malik (34 not out) were the other notable performers for Pakistan.

The Pakistani innings started on a disastrous note as ODI debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced a beauty to get rid of Mohammed Hafeez with the very first delivery of the Pakistan innings.

The ball came back sharply after pitching as Hafeez didn't offer a stroke only to find his off-stump knocked back.

The youngster got rid of Azhar Ali a few overs later to reduce the visitors to 21 for two. But the experienced Younis Khan and Nashir steadied the Pakistan innings with a solid 112-run third wicket partnership.

Ratan Tata's farewell letter to all Tata employees - India

28  dec  2012

Ratan Tata, who stepped down as the chairman of the Tata group today as he turned 75, has written a warm farewell letter to his employees saying, “we have every reason to feel proud and feel confident in facing the challenges ahead”.

Mr. Tata handed over the reins of the $100 billion conglomerate to 44-year-old Cyrus Mistry today.

Here is the full text of the letter:

Dear Colleague,

As 2012 comes to an end, let me wish you and your family all the best for the New Year. I hope that 2013 and the future years bring you good health, peace of mind and great happiness.

This is also the last time that I write to you prior to my retirement as the Chairman of the Tata Group and I want to convey to you how privileged I have been to have had the opportunity of leading this great Group over the last two decades through good times and bad.

Whatever has been achieved has only been possible because of the amazing spirit, the dedication of each one of you and the enormous support and faith reposed in me, for which I am deeply grateful and appreciative. I feel immensely proud of the manner in which the employees and the companies have come together in facing crises from time to time. These have included adverse market conditions, natural calamities like earthquakes and tsunamis and gruesome acts of terrorism.

The memories of personal sacrifices, loyalty and individual acts of heroism will always remain in my memory, to reinforce the great sense of pride I have in having been a member of this team. We today are a $100 billion Group in revenues. Over the past 20 years our revenues have grown about 20 times and today 58% come from overseas operations. Our brand has emerged as the 45th global and the number one Indian brand. Our products and services are present in 85 countries. We therefore have every reason to feel proud and feel confident in facing the challenges ahead.The difficult economic environment that we face in the current year will most likely continue through most of the next year.

We will probably see continued constraints in consumer demand, over-capacity and increased competition from imports. There will therefore be great pressure on our companies to reinvent themselves in terms of business processes and to dramatically reduce costs, to be more aggressive in the market place and to widen our product range to better address consumer needs. We will also need to contain our borrowings and work hard to retain our margins. This environment would once again call on you for your support, your commitment and your dedication to achieve success in these somewhat difficult times.This seemingly gloomy picture however will be a passing phase.

I feel confident that the robust growth that India has shown over the past several years will be re-established and the strong fundamentals in the country will result in India once again taking its place as one of the economic success stories of the region. The Tata Group will undoubtedly play an important role in the continued development of our country, providing leadership in various industrial segments in which they operate and living by the value systems and ethical standards on which our Group was founded. The future growth of the Group will be led in the coming years by Cyrus Mistry.

I am sure that he will receive from you the same support, the same commitment and the same understanding that I have enjoyed over the years. Tatas are a Group where I feel proud to have belonged and proud to have been associated through the years. I wish the Group, Cyrus Mistry and each of you great success in the years ahead. I hope the Group grows and shines in the coming years.

Yours sincerely, Ratan N. Tata, chairman, Tata Sons

Kerala to give Rs. two lakh to families of deceased NCC cadets - India

27 dec 2012

Kerala to give Rs. two lakh to families of deceased NCC cadets

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government on Thursday announced a solatium of Rs. two lakh each to the families of five NCC cadets who drowned in the Periyar River near Kochi.

This was announced by an official in Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's office.

Five teenage NCC cadets from Delhi attending the National Trekking camp of the National Cadet Corps drowned after being caught in a whirlpool while clicking photos in the Peiyar River in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

The victims were Hemant Kumar (15), Mohammed Zeeshan (18), Sabeesh Baqri (18), Dilshad Alam (18) and Gulvez Ahamed (18) (all from Delhi).

About 700 odd NCC cadets from across the country have congregated at Malayattoor for the 8-day national level trekking camp which began on December 23.

Indian Jews from 'lost tribe' move to Israel - India

26  dec  2012

Indian Jews from 'lost tribe' move to Israel

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Jerusalem: Dozens of Jews who claim to be the descendants of a lost biblical Jewish tribe emigrated to Israel on Monday from their village in northeastern India, celebrating their arrival after a five-year struggle to get in.

The Bnei Menashe say they are descended from Jews banished from ancient Israel to India in the eighth century B.C. An Israeli chief rabbi recognized them as a lost tribe in 2005, and about 1,700 moved to Israel over the next two years before the government stopped giving them visas.

Israel recently reversed that policy, agreeing to let the remaining 7,200 Bnei Menashe immigrate.

Fifty-three arrived on a flight on Monday. Michael Freund, an Israel-based activist on their behalf, said nearly 300 others will arrive in the coming weeks.

"After waiting for thousands of years, our dream came true," said Lhing Lenchonz, 26, who arrived with her husband and 8-month-old daughter. "We are now in our land."

Not all Israelis think Bnei Menashe qualify as Jews, and some suspect they are simply fleeing poverty in India.

Avraham Poraz, a former interior minister, said they were not linked to the Jewish people. He also charged that Israeli settlers were using them to strengthen Israel's claims to the West Bank.

When Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar recognized the Bnei Menashe as a lost tribe in 2005, he insisted they undergo conversion to be recognized as Jews. He sent a rabbinical team to India that converted 218 Bnei Menashe, until Indian authorities stepped in and stopped it.

The Bnei Menashe come from the states of Mizoram and Manipur near India's border with Myanmar, where, they say, their ancestors landed after the Assyrians banished them. Over the centuries they became animists, and in the 19th century, British missionaries converted many to Christianity.

Even so, the group says they continued to practice ancient Jewish rituals, including animal sacrifices, which they say were passed down from generation to generation. Jews in the Holy Land stopped animal sacrifices after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Eight years after rape, battle for justice still on - India

25  dec  2012

Eight years after rape, battle for justice still on

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Click to Expand & Play

Hyderabad: The country has risen in support of the Delhi gang-rape survivor but for Sonal (NOT her real name) and her family, it has been a lonely and long frustrating battle for justice. Sonal was eight years old when she was sexually assaulted by her paternal aunt's brother-in-law. Sonal and her younger brother had been left with the aunt in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra because their father is visually impaired and earns his living moving around singing bhajans. The two children were going to school at the aunt's place where the 47-year-old man had access to the child and authority to get his way.

The girl told her aunt who reportedly scolded her and scalded her with a hot iron ladle to ensure she did not tell this to anyone else. The child fell ill. When the parents brought her home to Hyderabad, her mother noticed the child was withdrawn, terrified to let anyone come near her, would not even let her mother give her a bath. The mother soon discovered what had happened and they took her to a doctor who said the child had been sexually assaulted and had suffered injury in her private parts. They filed a police complaint.

The case was subsequently transferred to Ladkhed in Maharashtra. After five years of running around the police stations and pursuing the case, in April, 2009, the court of Darwha additional sessions judge found the accused guilty under section 376 r/w 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The accused went in appeal and he was acquitted by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court within a year. The Maharashtra government did not think it was necessary to appeal against this judgement in the Supreme Court. The father of the child, with neither money nor influence, was unable to find a lawyer to fight his case. Finally, the Human Rights Law Network intervened and filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) on behalf of the parents.

In the SLP, the petitioner has mentioned that "the honourable High Court without being sensitive to prevalence of domestic child sexual abuse, overthrew the entire case of prosecution based on its wrong assumption that every burn injury, irrespective of its nature and grievousness, is bound to leave a burn mark on the body even after 25-27 days, without giving a chance to the witness to clarify this. The High Court even erred in calculating this time period as 10-12 days as against the proofs available on record.

"The High Court again erred in assuming that word 'Kukarma' was used by the victim while as per the records she never said this word. The original statement of the victim at the Alwal Police Station uses the word 'rape' and testimony in the witness box clearly uses of phrase 'sexual intercourse'.

"It is important to mention here that Honourable High Court has unduly considered the irrelevant facts for releasing the accused. The order of the Honourable High Court does not consider the seriousness of the allegations, the age of the victim, the stage of the appeal, which should be given a very serious consideration at the time of ordering release of an accused person. Rather it considered the facts, which should not be considered as grounds for release of an accused person.

"The High Court in its judgement has found this highly probable that a blind father will put the reputation of his unmarried daughter and family on stake for extracting a petty amount of money (which may not be more that Rs. 1200) from the accused who happens to be a relative too. The facts, which must primarily be considered - the seriousness of allegations, the age of the victim, order of the Session court, the possibility of the accused threatening the victim again or repeating the act again with the victim or other girls - have been completely ignored by the Honourable High Court."

Saurabh, a software engineer who was so moved by the plight of the father and his fight for justice, decided to make the battle his own. "How can anyone say that for Rs. 1200, a father would put his daughter's chastity at stake. Whereas he has spent several times that amount in trying to pursue the case."

Saurabh points out that the case has suffered because of shoddy investigation and poor evidence collection by the investigating authorities. "It is very obvious that the evidence of the doctor who examined the child and gave a report must be taken on record. Also the testimony of the person to whom the child first reported the crime, in this case the aunt. Both of that was not done. When in the High Court the questions were asked about this evidence, the prosecution had no answer."

Saurabh says he feels there should be a system of ensuring feedback on the quality of investigation and some punitive action for some obvious lapses. "The victim pays such a huge price for basic lapses by the investigating agency. So if at some stage, either during trial or later, the judge notices lapses of this sort, then questions must be asked and the officers made accountable."

The SLP filed by the family has been admitted in the Supreme Court. But eight years after the crime, justice seems delayed, if not denied, too long. The child has grown into a 16-year-old. Social taunts forced her to drop out of school. She has few friends because other parents don't want their children to interact with a "rape victim" because they presume she could be a "loose character" and a "bad influence on their child". So it is a lonely existence for the young girl. The family has been ostracised by relatives who wanted them to accept a "monetary compensation and bury the case". Socially there is heckling and humiliation. The siblings also dropped out of school because the mother wanted to be with her children to protect them. The visually impaired father, who also suffers from polio, needed a support. So the son dropped out and started accompanying his father on his bhajan tours.

The girl's mother asks, "They say we must fight for justice. My daughter's life and ours was ruined. We are fighting for justice. Why isn't anyone helping us? Neither the government nor anyone else?"

Two ACPs suspended, they failed in their duty, says Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna - India

24  dec  2012

Two ACPs suspended, they failed in their duty, says Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

New Delhi: Delhi's  Lieutenant Governor, Tejinder Khanna, who was away in the US all of last week as a law and order crisis unfolded after a young medical student was brutally gang-raped in a moving bus in the heart of the city, today denied that he had been ordered back.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told NDTV today that he "enquired" where Mr Khanna was. The Lieutenant Governor said he was visiting his daughter and had permission from the President to do so. The Delhi Police reports to the Lieutenant Governor and not the chief minister, a point of repeated criticism by many including Sheila Dikshit, who heads the Delhi government.

The gang-rape of 23-year-old Amanat (NOT her real name) has infuriated the city, which has seen violent protests in which the police has been accused of having used excessive force; satellite protests are being held everyday in other cities.

The Lieutenant Governor arrived in Delhi this morning and met representatives of women's organisations and top Delhi cops. He then spoke about police lapses like the bus in which Amanat was raped being allowed to ply in the city with tinted windows, which is against the law. He said on the Sunday evening that the incident happened cops had failed to stop the bus as it drove through a number of checkposts. He said two Assistant Commissioners of Police had been suspended for failing in their duty and two Deputy Commissioners of Police asked to give explanations.

The Lieutenant Governor pointed out that Delhi's police commissioner had apologised for any police excesses and an inquiry was on. "Restraint would have been a better model perhaps," Mr Khanna said, referring to police action on protesters over the weekend, which saw violent clashes at India Gate between the police and demonstrators shouting, "We want justice." Some carried placards that demanded the death penalty for rapists. The police used tear-gas and water-cannons against the crowd of many thousands, who defied police orders to gather at India Gate. Some tried to rush towards Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the President lives.
 
The Lieutenant Governor also enumerated a number of measures being taken by the police to ensure safety of women in the capital, including sensitising the police force. Mr Khanna announced that Sudhir Yadav, Special Commissioner of the Delhi Police, can be approached 24/7 on women's rights on 9818099012.

"Drivers of public transport vehicles would have to wear ID badges. They will also need to carry photo IDs. Earlier, there was no background check on drivers; the process will begin now," he told the media. 

The Lieutenant Governor said that he will personally review the security situation for women in the city. Me Khanna also said strict action would be taken if police personnel are found guilty of disrespecting or misbehaving with women.

Newly-elected Himachal Congress MLA wanted for girl's murder - India

22  dec  2012

Newly-elected Himachal Congress MLA wanted for girl's murder

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Panchkula: Newly-elected Himachal Pradesh MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary has been named in a murder case by Panchkula Police. A team of the police from Panchkula, which borders Chandigarh, raided Mr Chaudhary's residence and other suspected hideouts.

The MLA along with three others is wanted in connection with the murder of a young girl. Jyoti, a native of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, was found dead in Panchkula on November 22. As per the post mortem report, she died of head injuries and had had an abortion recently. Details from her cell phone led the police to the MLA.

The girl's father, Booti Ram, said he will go to court if the police fail to catch the perpetrators.

"Police are not doing anything. I will go to court to get justice,"Booti Ram said.

Mr Ram was reportedly offered money to remain silent on the case, he refused the offer, Mr Ram said. "I don't want any money," Mr Ram said.

Mr Chaudhary is also the general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, and is the son of a four-time Congress MLA. He was elected on a Congress ticket from Doon constituency in Baddi, which borders Haryana.

The police have not been able to locate the MLA.

Two Indian women racially attacked on Melbourne bus - India

20 dec 2012

Two Indian women racially attacked on Melbourne bus

Melbourne: Two Indian women were attacked by an Australian woman and hurled racial abuses in Melbourne, prompting the police to launch a probe.

The attacker, believed to be in her thirties, racially abused the Indian passengers on a bus "throughout the journey into the city" on December 12, the police said on Thursday.

The Indian women, in their twenties, were walking down the aisle of the bus looking for
a seat when one of them accidently bumped the Australian passenger, already seated, with her handbag. The Indian woman turned to apologise but was racially abused, the police said.

"The racial abuse continued throughout the journey. When the two women got off the bus at the corner of Queen and Collins streets, the abusive woman followed and attacked them," the police statement said.

The attacker slapped one woman across the face and knocked a phone from the hand of the other victim when she tried to call the police. She warned them not to inform the police before fleeing in a taxi.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward and help in the investigation.

The assault comes weeks after another case of racial abuse on Melbourne's public transport
system made headlines. Passengers on a bus yelled abuse and threats at some French girls who were singing a song in French.

Gujarat elections: Voting for second phase today - India

16 dec  2012

Gujarat elections: Voting for second phase today

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Ahmedabad: 95 seats will go for polling today in the second and last phase of Gujarat Assembly elections in which 1.98 crore voters will decide the fate of 820 candidates including Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking his third term.

Polling will take place in 40 constituencies in five districts of central Gujarat, on 32 seats in five districts of north Gujarat, 17 seats of Ahmedabad city area and on six seats in Kutch district.

After the impressive 70.75 per cent voting for the 87 seats in the first phase on December 13, today's polling has attained much more significance, particularly when apart from Mr Modi many of his Cabinet colleagues are also facing the test of voters in the second phase.

From Congress party, its senior-most leader and former Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, his son Mahendra Vaghela, former state Congress president Siddharth Patel, Shweta Bhatt (wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt) are contesting the poll in this phase.

Today, voters will decide the fate of political bigwigs like state ministers Anandi Patel, Saurabh Patel, Jaynarayan Vyas, Ramanlal Vora, Praful Patel, Pradipsinh Jadeja and Fakir Vaghela.

Former Minister of State for Home and accused in Tulsi Prajapati and Sohrabuddin Sheikh alleged fake encounter cases, Amit Shah will also be awaiting his fate following today's voting.

On Ellisbridge seat in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) of Keshubhai Patel has given ticket to Jagruti Pandya, the wife of slain BJP leader and former Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya.

For the second phase, BJP has fielded candidates on all 95 seats going to the poll, whereas Congress is contesting on 92 and GPP on 84 seats.

Apart from these three major parties, there are a total of 32 political parties and 284 independents in the fray.

Voting will take place at 23,318 polling stations, for which the Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangements.

"To ensure free and fair elections for the second phase, we have assigned duties to 7,256 micro-observers throughout the 12 districts where voting will take place on 95 seats," Chief Electoral Officer Anita Karwal said.

Memorial mass held for Indian-origin nurse Jacintha Saldanha at Bristol - India

15  dec  2012

Memorial mass held for Indian-origin nurse Jacintha Saldanha at Bristol

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

London: A memorial mass in memory of Jacintha Saldanha, the Indian-origin nurse found dead following a hoax call to a London hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge, was held at Bristol.

Jacintha Saldanha's friends and family attended St Teresa's Church in Bristol last evening to honour her memory.

Her husband Benedict Barboza held the hands of his children Lisha, 14, and Junal, 16, as they entered the church. They had earlier been greeted by Father Tom Finnegan, who gave a comforting hug to Junal.

A picture of Jacintha was placed at the foot of the altar, surrounded by flowers.

Jacintha was a keen member of the church, and regularly attended two different churches in Bristol with her family.

Fr. Tom spoke only briefly about the King Edward VII nurse, whose hanged body was discovered a week ago in London. He then invited members of the congregation to light a candle in memory of tragic Jacintha. The priest read out messages from her two children and husband.

Through Fr Tom, Junal and Lisha said: "We will miss your laughter and loving smile and memories we had together. The house is empty. We are shattered and there is an unfillable void in our lives. We love you mum."

Benedict, through the priest, said: "I love you and I will miss you forever."
The family did not speak after the hour-long service.

The service was being held as the body of the mother-of-two was flown back to India for her funeral.

Meanwhile, a private memorial service was also held at the King Edward VII's Hospital where she worked.

Staff gathered at the London hospital to pay their respects to Saldanha, a mother-of-two from Bristol, who was found hanging in her nurses' quarters by a colleague and a security guard last Friday.

The nurse transferred the DJs, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to a colleague who described in detail the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge during her hospital stay for severe pregnancy sickness.

"King Edward VII's is a small hospital, with a tight-knit team. Everybody knew Jacintha, and we were all left deeply shocked by her tragic death following the hoax telephone call.

Today's service was a chance for everyone here to pay their respects and remember a dear colleague," John Lofthouse, chief executive at the hospital, said.

An inquest into her death said that Saldanha left three suicide notes, with The Guardian reporting that one of the notes criticised staff at the hospital.

It is believed the nurse's suicide note has left her grieving family furious, with husband Ben Barboza understood to want an inquiry into the hospital.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror about Saldanha's suicide notes, a source close to the family said, "one of the letters, which is the longest, deals with the hospital and is critical in its tone.

"Needless to say, Ben wants a full inquiry into what happened and he wants to make sure the truth comes out. Within the letter, Jacintha calls into question some of the treatment she received at the hospital".

In another note, the mother-of two describes how she struggled to come to terms with the prank call by the two Australian DJs.

The third and final letter is practical and deals with her funeral plans.

The body of the victim was discovered in her room in staff quarters last Friday. Two of the notes were found nearby and a third was among her possessions.

Saldanha had also sent a number of emails and made telephone calls that police believe might help explain what happened.

During a five-minute hearing at Westminster Coroner's Court, it was revealed that attempts were made to revive the nurse but they were "to no avail".

"Jacintha Saldanha was found by a colleague and a member of security staff. Sadly she was found hanging. There were also injuries to her wrist. The London Ambulance Service was called to the scene. At this time there are no suspicious circumstances,"
Detective Chief Inspector James Harman said.

Scotland Yard detectives are examining the notes, as well as interviewing Saldanha's friends, family and colleagues at London's King Edward VII hospital.

The Indian-origin nurse's accountant husband Ben Barboza, 49, identified her body. Coroner Fiona Wilcox opened and adjourned the inquest until March 26.

Saldanha, who was born in India, lived in London during the week and returned home to Bristol to be with her family at weekends.
Barboza and children Junal, 17, and Lisha, 14, had been expecting her home for the weekend and were apparently unaware of her role in the hoax call.

Labour MP Keith Vaz, who has been representing the family, said they could expect the results of a post-mortem examination within four days.

"The family is very grateful to the coroner's court for the way they have dealt with the matter and they are extremely grateful to the Metropolitan Police. As you know they are very upset and they are grieving and they are comforting each other," he said.

Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of Sydney-based 2Day FM which broadcast the hoax call, has ended Greig and Christian's Hot 30 show and suspended prank calls across the company.

Last night, it was revealed Saldanha's family has been offered bereavement counselling in their home city of Bristol by the King Edward VII hospital.

In a letter to John Lofthouse, the chief executive of the private hospital, Vaz says the family will take up this offer.

Gujarat elections: Cricketer Irfan Pathan campaigns with Narendra Modi - India

12   dec  2012

Gujarat elections: Cricketer Irfan Pathan campaigns with Narendra Modi

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Click to Expand & Play

Kheda, Gujarat: Cricketer Irfan Pathan today sprung a surprise, joining Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at his election rally in Kheda.

Mr Pathan, who belongs to Vadodara and has been forced out of cricketing action by an injury, shared the stage with the chief minister at the rally. His presence is being seen as a shot in the arm for Mr Modi in the highly polarised Gujarat election campaign.

The state goes to polls tomorrow and on December 17. The results will be declared on December 20 and are widely anticipated to go the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) way.

Mr Modi, who is seeking a third consecutive term in power, has been accused by activists and political rivals of being biased against minorities. Gujarat saw its worst communal riots in 2002 - over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.

Mr Modi is alleged to have asked his administration to go soft on the rioting Hindu mobs - a charge that he has vehemently countered by saying that all communities prospered equally under his rule.

For the 2012 elections, the BJP has not given tickets to Muslims in any of the 182 seats. The party has explained this by saying that almost all the sitting MLAs were retained and the rest of the seats went to other deserving candidates.

Muslims make up close to 10 per cent of the votes in Gujarat. In many areas, their numbers are high enough to influence the poll outcome.

US WikiLeaks hearing reaches closing arguments - India

11  dec  2012

US WikiLeaks hearing reaches closing arguments

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

File photo

Fort Meade, Maryland: Closing arguments are scheduled in a pretrial hearing for a U.S. Army private accused of sending classified information to the WikiLeaks secrets-spilling website.

The summations on Tuesday follow 10 days of testimony. Bradley Manning argues that the case should be dismissed because he suffered illegal pretrial punishment during nine months in the Marine Corps brig in Virginia.

The government contends the tight restrictions were to keep Manning safe and prevent him from killing or hurting himself. He was confined at least 23 hours a day, sometimes with no clothing, in a small cell.

The 24-year-old is charged with 22 offenses, including aiding the enemy. That offense carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Jodhpur court summons Salman Khan, Saif Khan in February for poaching case - India

10 dec 2012

Jodhpur court summons Salman, Saif in February for poaching case

                                 

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Bollywood star Salman Khan and three other actors were today summoned by a local court to appear before it on February 4 for chargeframing in the Black Buck poaching case, 14 years after the incident.

The lower court had framed Salman Khan under relevant sections of the Wildlife Act, the Arms Act and the IPC while the others, including actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabbu, Sonali Bendre, Nilam, Dushyant Singh and Dinesh Gawre, were framed under the Wildlife act and the IPC, defence counsel Hastimal Saraswat said.

The accused had then filed a revision petition in the session court which discharged Salman Khan from Section 27 (illegal possession of arms) of the Arms Act and 148 (rioting with deadly weapons) of IPC whereas the others were discharged of section 51 (causing harm to wildlife) of Wildlife Act and both under 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly of persons) of IPC.

Saraswat said the state government then filed a revision petition in the Rajasthan High Court which upheld the decision of the session court in Salman's case whereas added section 149 of IPC against the others, which the session court had dropped.

Two endangered Black Bucks were allegedly poached on the intervening night of 1-2 October, 1998, at Kankani village near Jodhpur during the shooting of the Bollywood movie Hum Saath Saath Hain.

The trial will now commence in the lower court with the revised charges for which the court has summoned all the accused to hear the charges on February 4.

All the accused had last appeared in the lower court on June, 19, 2006 but revision petitions first by the defence and then by the state government had held up the trial.

Salman Khan was convicted and sentenced to 1-year and 5- year prison terms in separate cases of poaching of two Chinkaras at Bhawad and one Black Buck at Ghoda Farm (Mathania) on the intervening night of 26-27 September, 1998 and 28-29 September, 1998 respectively.

Appeals against these sentences, both by Salman Khan and the state government, are pending in the High Court since long.

Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh dropped from squad for Nagpur Test - India

09 DEC 2012

Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh dropped from squad for Nagpur Test

Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh have been dropped as selectors picked up the India squad for the 4th Test to be played in Nagpur.

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Kolkata:  Stung by two successive defeats on home soil, the national selectors on Sunday cracked the whip by axing veteran pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and batsman Yuvraj Singh from the squad for the fourth and final Test against England starting on Thursday.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who did not play the last match, also found himself in casualty list as the selectors opted for a leg-spinner in Piyush Chawla and infused young blood by picking Delhi paceman Parvinder Awana and Saurashtra all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

Barring Yuvraj and Zaheer's omissions, there were no major changes to the squad announced by BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale after a meeting of the Sandeep Patil-led selection panel.

The selectors also announced the team for the two Twenty20 matches to be held in Pune (December 20) and Mumbai (December 22) in which Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Awana were the two new faces. Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan were left out and the Board explained that they were unavailable for the series.

"I don't want to comment on selection issues. No one is happy when the team loses. We are looking into it, we are working on it," said Jagdale.

Jadeja, a hot property in the IPL, and Awana were rewarded with a berth in the team for their consistent performance in the domestic circuit.

Under pressure to make changes after the debacles in Mumbai and Kolkata, the national selectors, however, refrained from making wholesale changes to the squad.

As a result some of the other non-performing stars retained their places while the two spinners - R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha - despite being below-par have hung on to their places.

Off-spinner Ashwin has flopped as a bowler in the series so far but his unbeaten knock of 91 may have just saved him from the axe.

Jadeja's inclusion provides the all-rounder's option to the team, particularly after the middle-order batsmen failed to make much of an impression. Virat Kohli has had a dismal series,while Sachin Tendulkar has also been struggling for runs though he scored 76 in the first innings.

Zaheer's axing was on the cards as he took only one wicket in 31 overs that he bowled in the third Test and has a tally only four wickets in three Tests.

While Steven Finn and James Anderson swung the ball in Kolkata, Zaheer failed to do so for India and was shoddy on the field.

Zaheer's absence will mean that either Ashok Dinda or Awana would play in the Nagpur Test. Ishant Sharma, who also did not make much of an impact, has been retained though his place in the playing XI remains uncertain.

Jadeja hit two triple centuries against Gujarat and Railways in the Ranji Trophy and was recently in the news for being the first Indian to hit three triple centuries.

Awana was among the top three wicket-takers last season and has already got two five-wicket in the two Ranji Trophy matches this season.

Squad for Nagpur Test: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda, M Vijay, Parvinder Awana.

Squad for Twenty20 series: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Manoj Tiwary, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Piyush Chawla, Ashok Dinda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Laxmipathy Balaji, Parvinder Awana.

India's image hurt by scams, court process, retrospective taxation: Ratan Tata - India

09 dec 2012

India's image hurt by scams, court process, retrospective taxation: Ratan Tata

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

The outgoing chairman of the Tata group Ratan Tata is "rattled" by India's current image emerging from scams and retrospective taxation, and wants the government to give an "irreversible commitment" that law of the land has sanctity.

"Never before has India had that kind of image," he said in a freewheeling interview to PTI three weeks ahead of his retirement on December 28 after serving the group for 50 years including 21 years as Chairman.

In the hour-long interview, Tata, who turns 75 later this month, spoke about the major decisions taken during his chairmanship, the current investment scenario, and business ethics and crony capitalism.

India has been "hurt" by scams, court process and some of the retrospective taxation acts which had given "a sense of uncertainty to investors in terms of the credibility of the government", he said.

"You get FIPB approval to invest in India and to own a company, you get a licence to operate and, then three years later the same government... tells you that your licences are illegal and that you have lost everything.

"This leads to a great deal of uncertainty. Never before has India had that kind of image. So that really rattled me because then anything can happen," the Tata patriarch said.

India must give an "irreversible commitment" that law of the land has sanctity and the government approval cannot be taken lightly, he emphasised, adding "otherwise India would be taken lightly".

Despite being critical of the current situation, Mr Tata sounded quite optimistic about the future of India as an economic power.

Welcoming the recent steps taken by the government to boost investor confidence, Mr Tata said, "What they did recently to FDI and other things, I think, will reinstate some degree of confidence".

While these steps may have had a "great" positive impact, it was not enough, he added.

"There will have to be efforts made to reassure people that the laws that are in place, the legislation that is in place, is here to stay. If it is changed, it has to be changed in some rational way of announcing a change which is prospective and not retrospective," Mr Tata said.

Describing FDI in multi-brand retail as a significant step, the Tata group chairman said that it would help the consumer in terms of having an opportunity to choose, hopefully at lower cost. "If it doesn't do that, then the model has failed."

Mr Tata had words of praise for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh describing him as a leader of high integrity and an architect of the 1990 reforms.

"My view is that the PM had to move. If he got attacked from all sides... you don't do anything after that. If you want him to do something and you attack him from all sides, then in all likelihood he would not not do anything."

CRONY CAPITALISM

Answering a question about crony capitalism, Mr Tata said it was becoming an issue not only in India but globally. India was not a leader in this but "we are quite prominent".

He said crony capitalism leads to a situation of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. This disparity leads to an unhealthy situation in which power is focused in certain pockets and a "skewed" competitive situation, he said.

Mr Tata said the problem of crony capitalism can be done away with basically by the law being implemented in its spirit.

"There is nothing wrong with the legislations that we are doing with. What we unfortunately tend to do in India is we legislate, drafting of which is fairly ok, but enforcement of it is poor," he said, adding that it then leads to non-compliance or violation, which brings a new legislation which blocks everybody as if all are violators.

"But the violators continue to operate because enforcement is still inadequate. So now you got a very biased legislation that has replaced a good one that makes it impossible for you to operate legally or very difficult for you to operate and accentuates the situation more.

"If we had stronger legislation, with no exceptions based on who you are or whom you know, then I think crony capitalism would finally find its own limit," he said.

Mr Tata also thinks the problem was getting worse. "Yes. It's just an observation, I have no facts or figures to prove it," he added.

DETERIORATING VALUES & ETHICS

To a question on his statement that the fabric of Indian values and the ethics was slowly deteriorating, especially in the business community, he said, "I hold to that view."

Elaborating, he said he thought the system was partly responsible for that because if a company follows a value system then operations were definitely much more difficult than they were "if you would comply with the standards that are in existence today".

"So certainly the softer option is to become part of the system and you move to a lower level and so it becomes a snow-balling effect. And then we consider that what we are doing that is out of the line is ok and it has to happen," Mr Tata said.

Giving an example, he said there would be quite a noise 30 or 40 years ago if a man broke a queue in a cinema house to get a ticket out-of-turn.

"But today if somebody barges in nobody will dare say anything and he will get what he wants and take ten tickets and it will be a houseful. He may be a black marketeer and selling tickets. He may be doing whatever he may be doing. So nobody stops him.

"Eventually what happens is the little guy says the fact that a little money to get to the front of the line, if I do this I can do. Pretty soon it becomes a normal thing. And that I think is what has happened over the 50 years of Independence," he said.

Asked if that was happening in industry also, Mr Tata said if there was a product in short supply some companies will make money exploiting that. Some dealers, distributors and middlemen will make money.

"We have that kind of situation. It is not that we have enforcement that comes now on us and says the maximum retail price is such and such and we will prosecute you if you were violating it."

On Tatas doing business without compromises, Mr Tata said, "it is still possible and you still can grow. It is a great pride to me and happiness is that you can go home and sleep you didn't succumb.

"You may lose... and you may not get the airline you want. Forces work against you. So may lose some. You may have some scars on you but on the whole I don't think we have done badly."

FUTURE OF INDIAN ECONOMY

Despite all the shortcomings, the outgoing chairman is optimistic about the future of the Indian economy and the country as such.

"I have always been very confident and very upbeat about the future potential of India. I think it is a great country with great potential,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we bring about some of the things on ourselves. It is not because of the environment around us. Our environment is big enough and complex enough. So we can operate smoothly. We would really be an economic power to deal with, I think so."

90 percent of Indians are idiots: Justice Markandey Katju - India

08 dec 2012

90 percent of Indians are idiots: Justice Markandey Katju

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

New Delhi: At least 90 percent of Indians are "idiots" who can easily be misled by mischievous elements in the name of religion, Press Council of India (PCI) chairperson Justice Markandey Katju claimed today.

"I say ninety percent of Indians are idiots. You people don't have brains in your heads....It is so easy to take you for a ride," he said at a seminar in the capital.

He said that a communal riot could be incited in Delhi for as meagre an amount as Rs. 2000. He said that all somebody has to do is make a mischievous gesture of disrespect to a place of worship and people start fighting each other.

"You mad people will start fighting amongst yourself not realising that some agent provocateur is behind this," he said.

Justice Katju said that before 1857 there was no communalism in the country but the situation is different now. "Today 80 percent Hindus are communal and 80 percent Muslims are communal. This is the harsh truth, bitter truth that I am telling you. How is it that in 150 years you have gone backwards instead of moving forward because the English kept injecting poison," Justice Katju said.

"The policy that emanated from London after the mutiny in 1857 that there is only one way to control this country that is to make Hindus and Muslims fight each other," he said.

He said that then there was a propaganda that Hindi was the language of Hindus and Urdu of Muslims. "Our ancestors also studied Urdu, but it is so easy to fool you. You are idiots, so how difficult is it to make an idiot out of you," he said.

Mr Katju said that he was saying these harsh things to make Indians, whom he loved to understand the whole game and not remain fools.

After Olympic shame, now Indian boxing federation suspended by International body - India

06 dec 2012

After Olympic shame, now Indian boxing federation suspended by International body

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

New Delhi: After the shock suspension of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) handed over a provisional suspension to the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) on Thursday.

The IABF was formerly led by Abhay Singh Chautala, who was also elected as the president of the Indian Olympic Association. The current president of the Indian federation is Abhishek Motaria, who was elected on September 23. Chautala was then nominated the chairman of the national body.

In its statement from Lausanne in Switzerland, the AIBA said: "Further to the International Olympic Committee's suspension imposed on the Indian Olympic Association, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee Bureau has decided today, 6 December 2012, to provisionally suspend the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF). This provisional suspension is also due to the fact that AIBA had learned about possible manipulation of the recent IABF's election. AIBA will now investigate this election and especially a potential political link between IOA President, as former Chairman of the IABF, and the IABF election." 

With the Asian Boxing Championship and the World Championships in Kazakhstan scheduled next year, the provisional ban now makes the future of Indian boxers participating in these events under the country's flag uncertain.

The world body took the decision at a meeting at Lausanne, in Switzerland two days after the IOC suspended the IOA, of whom Chautala, former president of IABF, was elected as president on Wednesday.

The shocking development meanwhile had also reached the boxers and Vijender Singh had a disappointing tone to his voice while speaking to NDTV.

The ace Indian boxer said,"I am really disappointed with this suspension. This is bad news for Indian sportsmen."

Vijender also said that the new boxing president was elected fairly.

Vijender said,"I want to continue representing India in future but this news will affect morale of Indian boxers."

The President of the Indian boxing federation, Abhishek Matoria, also spoke to NDTV and was shocked to hear the decision.

He said,"I am completely shocked to hear the news. We had provided all the information that the international body needed but still they have gone on to suspend us."

When asked if this was a fall out of the IOA suspension, he said, "This is a situation for entire sports in India and not just boxing. This is a very big demotivation of all the boxers in India and without any reason."

The president also said that there is probably some connection between the IOC and the AIBA.

NDTV also asked if there were some notices given to the Indian boxing federation, to which he replied, "We were given notices from AIBA regarding elections but had replied promptly. We had also sent our delegates to Armenia in the youth championship to meet AIBA representatives."

He also lamented the fact that the International body did not get back to the Indian boxing federation and it was the sad part.

UPA II is minority govt: Mamata - India

05  dec 201

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called the win of vote on FDI in multi-brand retail in Lok Sabha by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) as a shame and reiterated that the government is indeed a minority government as proved in the voting.

"It is a shame! The mandate today proves that the UPA-II is a minority Government. As against the majority figure of 271, based on the total strength of the House, the support was only 253, despite all attempts made by the selfish people," she posted on Facebook soon after the FDI vote win by UPA.

"This Government has lost its credibility. They must take fresh verdict from the people," she said.

After a heated two-day long debate, the UPA led by the Congress won the vote on allowing 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, defeating an Opposition motion against it.

While the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) abstained making it easier for the UPA to win, the ruling coalition got 253 votes in their favour of FDI in multi-brand retail. They needed only 236 after the walkout as the half way mark came down.

A total of 218 members cast their votes against FDI in multi-brand retail after the motion brought by Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj was put to vote.

A total of 471 lawmakers were in House during the voting.

The last to debate on the FDI in multi-brand retail was Trinamool Congress, which in September walked out of the UPA government over the issue and other clutch of bigh bang economic reforms announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said there is no harm if someone wants to go Swarovski and buy crystal, but FDI in multi-brand retail sector would ruin traders and farmers.

"Babalogs and Bibilogs [Westernized urban rich] can go and buy from Sarovski and Omega," he said, adding that FDI in multi-brand retail would be harmful for the nation.

Roy said there was no consensus on the issue though Congress claimed there is.

While Congress led UPA bailed itself out in Lok Sabha, in Rajya Sabha it stands a crucial test since the Congress lacks adequate numbers in the upper house.

The FDI debate under Rule 168, which entails voting, is set to take place in the Rajya Sabha on Dec 6 and 7.

The support of Mayawati and the SP are crucial for the government in Rajya Sabha.

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Chadha brothers' murder case: Namdhari's Personal Security Officer Sachin Tyagi arrested - India

03  dec 2012

Chadha brothers' murder case: Namdhari's Personal Security Officer Sachin Tyagi arrested

New Delhi: Sacked Uttarakhand Minorities Commission chairman Sukhdev Singh Namdhari's Personal Security Officer (PSO) has been arrested in connection with the murder of liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeep, police said on Monday.

Saching Tyagi, 27, an Uttarakhand Police constable and Namdhari's PSO, was arrested in New Delhi on Monday for his alleged role in the conspiracy that led to the murders of Ponty and Hardeep Chadha, said SBS Tyagi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime).

Mr Tyagi has been charged with criminal conspiracy and other sections, said the officer.

Earlier, the police had arrested Mr Namdhari on charges of allegedly murdering Hardeep while six others were arrested on charges of trespassing.

During investigations, Sachin Tyagi told the police that he had fired at Hardeep with his official weapon.

Sachin Tyagi joined Uttarakhand Police as a constable in 2005 and was attached with Mr Namdhari as his PSO since January 2012.

Asked about Sachin Tyagi's role, the officer said that he allegedly gave false statements to investigators and helped destroy evidence.

"Namdhari was in possession of a .30 caliber pistol but he did not have a licence for bringing the weapon to Delhi," said the officer.

He claimed that Mr Namdhari gave the pistol to Sachin Tyagi.

"Sachin Tyagi handed over the firearm to one Sonu who in turn gave it to Satnam. Sachin Tyagi knew this was an important evidence but he helped Namdhari," said the officer.

Special teams of Delhi Police have been sent to Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and two more people are likely to be arrested soon.

"Two more people related to the Chadha brothers' murder case would be under police custody till late Monday night," said SBK Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).

According to Mr Singh, the people are related to Mr Namdhari and they have a major role in trespassing at south Delhi's Chhattarpur farmhouse No. 42 where the Chadha brothers were killed in a shootout on November 17 over the property's possession.

However, the police are still working on the theory whether Mr Namdhari shot both the brothers or he fired only at Hardeep.

"We are investigating each and every angle and Mr Namdhari's role is suspicious in the gun-battle. Our investigation is still on," SBS Tyagi said.

The police were waiting for the ballistic report which would confirm the type of weapons and bullets used in the shootout.

Narendra Modi is 'role model' of development, says L K Advani; BJP to release Gujarat poll manifesto today - India

02  dec 2012

Narendra Modi is 'role model' of development, says L K Advani; BJP to release Gujarat poll manifesto today

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Ahmedabad: The BJP will release its manifesto in poll-bound Gujarat today. It will be released by Chief Minister Narendra Modi in presence of Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley and other leaders.

Meanwhile, the party launched an aggressive campaign with top BJP leaders addressing rallies in various parts of the state. BJP president Nitin Gadkari, senior leaders Murli Manohar Joshi, Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu among others were in the state to campaign for BJP.

And the Gujarat Chief Minister received some praise from senior leader L K Advani who was addressing election rallies at Kalol and Mansa in Gandhinagar district.

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Mr Advani called Mr Modi as a "role model" of development while appealing to states to imitate him. "Modi is undertaking great development work in Gujarat. He is a role model for chief ministers of other states on how to rule, govern and take care of even the poorest," Mr Advani said.

He also lauded the Gujarat Chief Minister's 3-D blitzkrieg for poll campaigning.

"In a family sometimes the younger ones are more capable than the elders and when the younger ones show their capabilities the elders do not feel bad, they feel happy, they feel proud that a youth from their family is so capable," Mr Advani said.

This comes a day after senior party leader Sushma Swaraj openly supported Gujarat Chief Minister as a potential prime ministerial candidate for BJP. "There are no boundaries for the post of Prime Minister. I feel Narendra Modi is capable to become the next PM and I have no doubts about it. He is both capable and suitable for holding the PM's post," Ms Swaraj said on Saturday.

Gopinath Munde too backed Mr Modi for the post of PM. "Narendra Modi is capable of becoming PM and I am satisfied with Sushma Swaraj's opinion... He has potential of becoming PM," Mr Munde said on Sunday.

The Gujarat Chief Minister is one of the most popular leaders of the BJP, and is often said to be one of the strong contenders for the NDA's prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 general elections. His ambition to be selected as his party's candidate for prime minister is also well known.

However, not everybody in the NDA coalition is a part of the Modi bandwagon. Keen to check Mr Modi's prime ministerial aspirations is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. His party the Janata Dal United or JD(U) is a senior member of the NDA, which is led by the BJP. Mr Kumar has said that as the largest party in the ensemble, the BJP has the prerogative of picking the coalition's prime ministerial candidate. However, he has warned that he will exit the group if the BJP makes Mr Modi its nominee. 18 per cent of Bihar is Muslim, and their vote is crucial for Mr Kumar. He has stressed that the NDA's prime ministerial candidate must have secular credentials - a thinly-veiled remark against Mr Modi, whose ambitions to move to the national landscape from Gujarat are hampered by the communal riots in his state in 2002.

The BJP has kept the issue of Prime Ministerial candidate on the backburner till now.

Currently though, Mr Modi's focus is Gujarat which goes to polls later this month. Voting will be held in two phases on December 13 and 17 and results will be declared on December 20. Mr Modi is contesting from the Maninagar seat in Ahmedabad and faces suspended top police officer Sanjiv Bhatt's wife Shweta Bhatt of the Congress. Mr Modi has been winning from the seat since 2002.

Facebook row: Mumbai Police book man whose complaint led to Air India employees' arrests - India

01  dec 2012

Facebook row: Mumbai Police book man whose complaint led to Air India employees' arrests

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Click to Expand & Play

Mumbai: After facing flak over the arrests of two Air India employees for their posts on Facebook, the Mumbai Police, in a bizarre step, has booked the man who had filed a complaint against the duo.

The move against the complainant, Sagar Karnik, comes after cabin crew members Mayank Mohan Sharma and KVJ Rao wrote to the Mumbai Police, seeking action against the policemen who had arrested them in May this year. The duo had allegedly shared lewd jokes about politicians, made derogatory comments against the Prime Minister and insulted the national flag in their posts. But they, in the letter, contended that they had merely shared content that was easily available on the Internet.

"Now if they have filed an FIR against Sagar Karnik, it's a clear-cut case that there was no need to arrest us in the first place. It is we who have provided the documents and it is we who have investigated the case for them," Mr Rao told NDTV.

He along with Mr Sharma were picked up by the Cyber Cell wing of the city police in a midnight raid and had to spend 12 days in custody. Mr Rao had earlier alleged that the police had acted under political pressure from NCP politician Kiran Pawaskar.

"What it (Sagar Karnik booked) reflects is the shoddy investigation done by the Investigating Officer Mr Ghosalkar. He picked us up at 1:30 am on a weekend so that we could not be granted bail, illegally impounded our passports and ID cards. It's a clear-cut case where the policeman was either toeing the line of the politician or his higher-ups. In spite of writing to the Commissioner, there has been no action till date," Mr Rao said.

It took the police nearly two months to make the arrests after lodging the Firrst Information Report (FIR) in March. The two had been booked under the controversial 66(A) and 67 sections of the Information Technology Act. Mr Sharma had said the cyber cell wing investigated the complaint for over a year but never summoned them even once.

They were suspended following the arrests and resumed work only earlier this week. They have been asked to undergo a refresher course.

The plight of the Air India staffers hit headlines even as a similar controversy was raging following the arrests of two young women in Palghar outside Mumbai over a Facebook post. One of them had protested against the shutdown in Mumbai on the day of Bal Thackeray's funeral while the other had liked the post. Although the girls were released on bail soon after the arrests, the incident sparked nationwide outrage, prompting the Maharashtra government to order a probe that later resulted in the suspension of two policemen.